The Kissing Competition Part 4

"Round like circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel,

never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel."

-Sting, Windmills of Your Mind

Luke felt his whole frame shake with exhaustion, he'd been awake since quarter to five and he'd got only about an hour of sleep the night before. For weeks he'd done all of his normal rituals in half the time, he was tired, irritated, and getting more distracted as the days went on. He didn't know how to fix this; he didn't have the tools to mend this. He'd never dealt with this before, sheer despair. He couldn't get his balance, he couldn't even get comfortable in his own skin, it had a new mistress.

He wished each day, that by the end of this day the bone-deep misery might have faded, just faded. He wasn't expecting miracles, just a chance to get back to himself and not feel like his fingers were slipping off the edge. 

Every day she came in and they pretended like nothing had happened. He took orders and she talked, like they'd never even touched each other.  It was driving him demented but he just couldn't forget how she melted against him in that goodbye kiss and it had been a kind of goodbye kiss, he'd spent hours trying to convince himself. Unfortunately, the kiss was stuck on play in a never-ending feedback loop in his head.

Luke tried to act normal every time she teased him, made fun of the way he spoke, the way he dressed, but every time it just made him furious. He was so angry and he couldn't explain it. Not without big professional shrink words anyway. He just wanted to yell at her, really vent but he was petrified that if he let one wrong word loose he'd never be able to stop. Luke froze as he walked over to take an order and saw her coming over. He wanted to tell everyone else to get out so he could have her all to himself.

Lorelai: Hello, Luke. Have you seen my daughter I seem to have lost her.

Luke: No, I haven't seen Rory. What can I get you?

Lorelai: Are you sure? She's about my height, she has blue eyes and brown hair, and she's really quiet, kind of easy to miss.

Luke: Would you like me to come back when you're ready to order?

Lorelai: Luke, I'm just trying to find my daughter, I've heard she hangs out here-

Luke turned and walked away before he did or said something really stupid, like kiss her.

Luke: Caesar, I'm going upstairs. Can you get orders?

Caesar: Yeah

Luke didn't turn around to see Lorelai's face but he could imagine the smug look of accomplishment she got every single time she pissed him off.

If he'd looked he would've seen the same misery that lived, permanently now, in his own eyes.

He'd taken a lot of stuff from her over the years but ever since the kiss he could barely look at her without snarling and wanting to punch the closest wall in sheer frustration. He knew walking away wasn't dealing with it but he felt so trapped by his emotions, so unpredictable, walking away seemed the safest.

Luke got to the door of the storeroom when he heard her following. He lost it. He turned around and pointed back towards the diner.

Luke: You can't come in here.

Lorelai: Luke!

Luke: I mean it, Lorelai. You really don't want to come anywhere near me today.

Lorelai: I'm not afraid of you.

Lorelai just started to walk closer towards him, but Luke cut her off and started walking back towards her, waving his arms to get her to move.

Luke: I don't want you in here! What part of that don't you understand? I don't need this, right now!

Luke put his face right in front of hers as he said this so he was surprised when she leaned in and put her mouth on his. She whispered against his mouth.

Lorelai: But I need this, Luke, I need you.

Instantly, they were drowning, kissing each other, licking, sipping, and sucking each other's mouths, frantically tilting their heads in time to get the best angle, arms wrapping around moving up and down, bodies meshed together. Luke backed Lorelai up against the wall of the tiny storeroom, neither noticed when the jars of pickles rocked dangerously above.

With a huge sigh, Luke pulled back;

Luke: Stop, stop! I can't do this. I just can't handle this, Lorelai. You're breaking me, I just can't.

Lorelai: I'm not trying to hurt you, Luke. I'm trying to fix this, besides, you want to kiss me, I can tell.

Luke: But kissing is what started all of this. I thought we'd agreed that it'd never work, we're better as friends-any of this ringing bells?

Lorelai: But it's not working, is it? I'm not sleeping, you're not sleeping, we're both so strung out, it's time for a plan B.

Luke: What's plan B? Stop seeing each other altogether?

Lorelai: No! I think we need to see more of each other. Like this.

Lorelai leaned in and started kissing him again. Luke kissed her back but between every kiss he tried to speak but she wouldn't let him move his mouth free.

Luke's heart jumped into his throat as she dived right in, heart and soul. She was kissing him exactly how he'd always hoped. Without thoughts, no boundaries, no limits, no hesitations. He could feel his knees go to rubber as she lightly traced his over-sensitised lips with the rough edge of her tongue.

A few minutes later, Luke walked, as normally and as casually as possible out of the storeroom, whistling under his breath and smiling.